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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5613 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5613

    To designate the Quindaro Townsite in Kansas City, Kansas, as a 
          National Historic Landmark, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 25, 2018

Mr. Yoder (for himself and Mr. Cleaver) introduced the following bill; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
    To designate the Quindaro Townsite in Kansas City, Kansas, as a 
          National Historic Landmark, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. QUINDARO TOWNSITE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK ACT.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Quindaro Townsite 
National Historic Landmark Act''.
    (b) Findings.--Congress finds as follows:
            (1) The town of Quindaro was founded in 1857, in what was 
        then the Territory of Kansas, with the specific intent of 
        aiding the Free-State movement in the struggle over whether to 
        admit Kansas to the Union as a free State or a slave State. As 
        a result, Quindaro played an important role in both the history 
        of Kansas and our Nation's broader debate over slavery.
            (2) Quindaro was a key site during the Bleeding Kansas 
        conflict, serving as a safe port of entry into Kansas on the 
        Missouri River for those opposed to slavery.
            (3) The town of Quindaro also acted as an important piece 
        of the Underground Railroad, allowing runaway slaves to escape 
        to freedom in Kansas.
            (4) Since the Quindaro Townsite's first excavation, it has 
        yielded a wealth of important artifacts that have contributed 
        to our understanding of the town and its place in history. The 
        area maintains a high level of archaeological integrity, with 
        the potential for additional discoveries at the site in the 
        future.
            (5) Local government, private entities, and individual 
        stakeholders in the area have invested time and resources to 
        further the preservation of both Quindaro's physical remains 
        and its historical and cultural legacy.
            (6) The Quindaro Townsite fits the National Historic 
        Landmark designation's requirement of possessing exceptional 
        value in illustrating the history of the United States, as well 
        as providing the potential to yield new information about our 
        past.
    (c) Designation.--The Quindaro Townsite in Kansas City, Kansas, as 
listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is hereby 
designated as the Quindaro Townsite National Historic Landmark.
    (d) Administration.--Nothing in this section shall affect the 
administration of the Quindaro Townsite by Kansas City or the State of 
Kansas.
    (e) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary, in consultation with 
the State of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas, and affected subdivisions, 
may enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate public or 
private entities, for the purposes of protecting historic resources at 
Quindaro Townsite and providing educational and interpretive facilities 
and programs for the public.
    (f) Technical and Financial Assistance.--The Secretary may provide 
technical and financial assistance to any entity with which the 
Secretary has entered into a cooperative agreement under subsection 
(e).
    (g) No Effect on Actions of Property Owners.--Designation of the 
Quindaro Townsite as a National Historic Landmark shall not prohibit 
any actions which may otherwise be taken by any property owners, 
including the owners of the Quindaro Townsite National Historic 
Landmark, with respect to their property.
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